Federal Presidential Election: CSU Deputy: Quickly Clarify Candidacy for Steinmeier's Succession
The power dynamics for the federal presidential election have been established. The Union and SPD have a comfortable majority. All that's missing now is a candidate.
CSU's deputy chairman Manfred Weber has urged a swift decision by the Union and SPD on a joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election within the next four weeks. "No lengthy debate is needed, but a clear signal," stated the chairman of the European People's Party (EVP) to Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Weber suggested that the upcoming CSU party congress at the end of October could provide the necessary clarity, with Ilse Aigner, the current Bavarian Landtag President, as a potential candidate.
Weber highlighted Aigner's political experience, clear stance against democracy opponents, and ability to bring people together. The decision for the successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be made by the Federal Convention on January 30, 2027, which consists of 630 Bundestag representatives and the same number of electoral officials from the country states.
Union and SPD hold an estimated 50-vote majority. Weber emphasized that a quick decision would demonstrate the coalition's ability to act. Weber noted that the CSU stands firmly behind Ilse Aigner, but other potential candidates include Education Minister Karin Prien, former CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, CDU Federal President Julia Klöckner, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and former Culture Minister Monika Grütters.
A woman presiding over the Federal Republic for the first time in almost 80 years is unprecedented. The outcome of this decision could also impact the debate about a potential successor for Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Having both the CSU leadership positions would be out of the question.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
